Euphorbiaceae as represented in the Flora of New South Wales Vol. 1 (1990) has since been split into 4 families: Euphorbiaceae s. str., Phyllanthaceae (includes Actephila, Breynia, Bridelia, Cleistanthus, Glochidion, Phyllanthus, Poranthera and Sauropus in New South Wales), Picrodendraceae (includes Pseudanthus, Micrantheum, Austrobuxus and Petalostigma in New South Wales), and Putranjivaceae (Drypetes being the only genus in New South Wales). Many members of the Euphorbiaceae s. str. are economically important. Rubber is produced from the latex of Hevea brasiliensis (Willd.) Muell. Arg.; castor oil from the seeds of Ricinus communis L.; tung oil, used in the paint industry, is produced from the seeds of Vernicia fordii (Hemsl.) Airy Shaw; the tuberous roots of Manihot esculenta Crantz, Bitter Cassava, are a staple food in tropical areas. A number of Euphorbia species are grown as ornamentals, especially E. pulcherrima Willd., Poinsettia, and E. milii Des Moul., Crown of Thorns. Many species are weeds, some are toxic to stock and humans.

The key below is for Euphorbiaceae s. lat. and includes Euphorbiaceae s. str. and genera now placed in Phyllanthaceae, Picrodendraceae and Putranjivaceae.

Bracts surrounding female flowers and fruits prominent, more or less circular, at least 4 mm and often more than 10 mm diam.; lamina either less than 20 mm long or if more than 20 mm long then pubescent with simple hairs

Leaves glabrous and green above on fresh material, sometimes brownish to blackish above when dry, hairy and grey to fawnish below, firm but not stiff, margin entire or almost so; fruit a capsuleBack to 50

Leaves fawnish grey below, densely covered with fawnish hairs, sometimes more or less glabrescent with age; capsule multilobed, more or less globose, 10–18 mm diam., usually orangey or orange-brown (see Picrodendraceae)Back to 52